‘Can’t you guess? I’m Lee’s wife.’

I sat forward again and stared at her.

‘Dedrick’s wife?’

‘That’s what I said.’

‘But he’s married to Serena Marshland.’

‘He married me first.’ She reached for a box of cigarettes, lit one and frowned into the fire. ‘Lee can take a little thing like bigamy in his stride.’

‘You mean Serena’s marriage was a fake?’

‘Yes. Of course, she didn’t know at the time. She knows now,’ and again she smiled bitterly.

‘Did you tell her?’

‘I told her father.’